American Revolution Patriot John Orr's Ghost appeared in Centreville

Patriot John Orr and his family were commemorated on Saturday, March 28 at the grave site of the Patriot and his daughter Jane at the historical cemetery at St John's Episcopal Church in Centreville, VA. In a break from the usual commemoration of a speaker simply telling about the Patriot, David Welker from the Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter, VA SAR, gave a ghostly first person portrayal of the Patriot. The ghost of John Orr greeted the ghosts of his mother and daughter. Mrs. Agnes Dalrymple Orr was portrayed by Mimi Spear a member of the Lanes Mill Chapter DAR. Daughter Jane was portrayed by Anita Bonner, also a member of the Lanes Mill Chapter DAR.

Lanes mill Chapter DAR member Jennie Lindner was the event Master of Ceremonies. The Sgt Maj John Champe Chapter VA SAR honor guard, dressed in Colonial Attire, was composed of Mark Sink, Barry Schwoerer, Ken Bonner and Steve Van Deusen. They stood at attention beside the colors as the Pledge of Allegiance, SAR Pledge and DAR American's Creed were recited. At the end of American's Creed the Honor Guard marched off.

St John's Episcopal Church pastor Kevin Laskowski gave the Invocation and Benediction and gave a short history of Centreville and surroundings.

Patriot John Orr was born in 1728 in Waterside, South Ayrshire, Scotland. He first settled near the Rappahannock River. He became involved with pre-Revolution activity and signed the Leedstown Resolutions in 1766, 10 years before the Declaration of Independence. The resolutions were written by Richard Henry Lee who 10 years later on June 7, 1766 submitted a resolution to the Continental Congress calling for American Independence. He moved to Fairfax county after having to sell his estate due to a bad debt when a benefactor failed to pay a loan. He died by drowning on July 20, 1795. John Orr donated beef to the Continental Army.